Jennifer Clyne capped off her UNBC basketball career in nearly perfect fashion.
Clyne, a graduating member of the Northern Timberwolves women's team, had her best-ever year, one that included regular-season and playoff championships in the PACWEST Athletic Association and the chance to compete for a national title. Along the way, the Prince George product was named a PACWEST first-team all-star, a provincial playoff all-star, a national player of the month and, ultimately, an All-Canadian.
"I didn't want to play my fifth year just to play," said Clyne, who joined the Timberwolves directly out of high school, where she was a standout player for the D.P. Todd Trojans. "I wanted to get better and I wanted to show people what I was made of and I'm glad I had a good year."
Clyne, who averaged 16.93 points per game during the PACWEST regular season, was presented with her All-Canadian award last Wednesday, the day before the T-wolves started play at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championship tournament in Lethbridge.
"It was a surprise to me -- it was really nice to get it," Clyne said. "I was recognized but I really feel like my whole team deserves an All-Canadian [award]."
For Clyne, the season's only disappointment was an opening-game loss at nationals. Late in that Thursday contest, the third-ranked Timberwolves were in a 61-61 tie with the sixth-seeded Algonquin College Thunder of Ontario. But, UNBC struggled as time was winding down and fell 74-62.
"I was of course really, really sad after that first game because it really felt like we could have won that game," said Clyne, a five-foot-11 forward. "We didn't come out like we should have and we weren't prepared like we should have been."
The T-wolves rebounded with a 74-67 Friday victory against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks and, in their last game on Saturday, fought hard against the top-seeded Grant MacEwan University Griffins of Edmonton but lost 73-57.
Back in her rookie season, 2007-08, Clyne also helped the Timberwolves win a provincial title, the first in the history of the UNBC basketball program. That year, the team attended the national championship in Truro, N.S.
Now that she has book-ended her career with national appearances, Clyne will focus on finishing up her double major in finance and general business at UNBC. She'll graduate in May and eventually plans to become a certified financial analyst.
As for basketball, Clyne will stay involved in the game. She'll coach, possibly in the high school ranks, and will play recreationally.
And no matter what, she'll never forget her time in the green and gold of the Timberwolves and all the people who helped make her playing days so special.
"I just want to thank the community and the fans for supporting me for all these years," Clyne said, her voice cracking with emotion.
Two other members of the UNBC women's team, Maria Neumann and Erin Beckett, also finished their careers on the weekend.
